Gangster next door

Chapter 1

THE JERK

Sundays....
Sunday is the day of the week which everyone looks forward to. Because after a long week of work who doesn’t enjoy a day when they can rest.

But that's not it for me. If there's any day i hate the most it has to be Sundays. Why? Because it’s the day when everyone has time to spare in the streets and cause trouble. And I make a living out of running behind these people.

Walking down the street this late is not unusual for me. Nor is it unusual to see me dragging my bag along the pavement.  But then i see it. My home. Just a sight of it gives me relief. It’s a small duplex combined house . With a porch upfront and a yard which is filled with overgrown grass. But somethings not right today. There's people standing infront of my house.

"Oh my there you are!!! "
My landlord,  Mrs. Smith chirped upon seeing me.
"Good evening " i said with a small bow of my head.
"I've been waiting for you! But seems like you are harder to see these days.." my landlord is a woman in her early 40s. At first glance she looks like a chill religious lady. But if there's anyone who's got a nose in others homes It's got to be her.
"Ah yes.. There was an emergency at the office..what brings you here at such time?"
"Well..." she said while glancing behind her. That's when i notice Him. A tall figure, broad shoulder, tanned skin,  sharp jawline and long haired boy- A man standing there. A dark green hoodie hugged his body like a glove while his boots shone in the moonlight like no other. I looked up to see him already staring at me.
"Oh. Um. Uhhh. W-who's that?" shit. Why did i stutter? It's not like checking someone out is a crime.
"Oh my did you forgot? I told you i found you a neighbour didn’t i? He already got his stuff inside"
"Ahh.... I didn’t realize 1st October is already here.." i said with an embarrassed smile.
"No It's fine. Meet Mr. Sokolov"

"Hello. I'm luna Chen. Seems like we'll be living right next to each other from now on. I look forward to getting along " i said with a smile. Waiting for him to reply. But..
He noded.
He Just noded.
And left.

"He must be the shy kind" Mrs. Smith said to quickly cover it up. "I'll leave you to it. Take care"
"Uh yes. Take care"
Giving one last glance at his door step, i moved towards my door.
Jerk.

THUD
I fall from my bed in fright as the loud engine sound echoed outside.
I lift up my window and look down in fear.
But the fear soon turned into annoyance as i saw my new neighbour reviving his bike. His bike matched him. A loud attitude.
"What do you think you’re doing this early in the morning?!"
He looked up and said "It's noon" before going back to reviving his bike.
For a moment i was taken a back. I had expected him to either stop or ignore me again.
But his voice..it was deep, but somewhat soothing. But that accent. Was he perhaps Italian-

"Noon or night what do you think you are doing?!"
............
He didn’t reply. Or maybe didn’t even hear me over the loud noise. So i did what any sane person would do.
I stormed out towards him.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Do you not hear me? Hey!!!"
But he refused to budge. So i did another thing that any sane person would do. Again.

I pulled the keys out of his bike.
"What do you think you are doing?" he finally spoke. Staring down at me. Sweat dripping down his hair, his bare biceps glistening under the sun. And those eyes... He was everything that's hard to imagine. A combination you only see on big screens. I didn’t even realize how quite everything else had gotten as i stared at him.

"Cat's got you tongue?" he said..way too calm. And that accent- STOP.

"And who's got you ear? I've been calling for you for so long.  What do you think you are doing making all those noise in such a peaceful neighbourhood?"

He looked around to see if anyone's around.
"It's monday. People are usually not at home around this time of the day" he said looking me up and down.
Is he..judging me?
"Well here i am. And why were you even doing that?"
"It's not starting"
"Then please take it to the workshop will you? It's been less than 24 hours since you are here and you’ve already annoyed me twice"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly questioning my statement.

"Last night...you ignored me and left. That was extremely rude. And now you are doing this when i finally got some sleep. Some of us have long shifts you know?"
He looked dowm ,tongue poking his inner cheek. Then slowly took his gloves off. And while looking down..
"I didn’t ignore you"
"Listen, I'm not the type to nitpick others...but You walked off after i introduced myself. It was so embarrassing" i said the last part quietly.
"Mrs. Smith already told you my name. Sokolov. And i acknowledged you by nodding. What else?"
I couldn’t help but stare at him in disbelief.
"Do you perhaps...lack interacting skills? Or were you not taught simple decency?"
This time he looked directly at my eyes eyes. cold, unmoving.Dark.
If looks could kill this would be it. I somewhat regreted saying that.
But before i could say anything..

"Well then. I'm Sokolov, I'm 31 years old.. Will this be enough? "
He said with a straight face. But his words restrained .. I don’t know why but it made me feel... Small. Somewhat a rude person forcing others to act how i liked. Just like i do while interviewing others. I didn’t like this feeling. Not one bit.

"Um.. Yeah.. Well..see you"
I said walking away but stopped. It just didn’t feel right. So i approached him again.

"I'm a reporter"
"What..?"
"I'm a reporter so sometimes my instincts take over. I didn’t mean to come out rather harsh or pushy... I'll try to be more respectful but I'd appreciate it if you’d do the same too" i said in one breath without looking at him.

"Nice to meet you. Reporter Luna"

I looked up upom hearing him. He was..looking down at me...
With a smile hardly visible
Eyes for some reason..
Soft